State wrestling day one

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Kirksville started day one of the state wrestling tournament in very similar fashion to how they closed out last season's state meet: by winning.

The Tigers as a team sit in second place and still have seven-of-eight wrestlers alive in the tournament.

Oak Grove leads the Class 2 team competition with 30.5 points. KHS is in a logjam at No. 3 with Fulton and St. Charles West, the two schools that topped them in the district tournament. All three of those schools have 27 points. Smithville sits between the group at three and Oak Grove.

One thing that is impressive for Kirksville on day one, but could become an issue down the road is the number of wrestlers competing. Oak Grove started the day with 10, Fulton brought 10, St. Charles West showed up with 11 wrestlers, and Smithville has 10 wrestlers Kirksville qualified eight for the state meet.

Ethan Rentschler got the day started off right for the Tigers as he won by pin over Logan Myers-Webb of Boliver. Rentschler will start day two against Drake Hoffman of Oak Grove, in what could be a critical match for team points.

Branden Beeler took care of Storm Massey of Dexter winning by pin. Beeler will also face an Oak Grove wrestler, as he will take on Tyler Brown in the second round.

Kylan Easley beat Alex Crooks of Sullivan in the first round as he also won by pin. Easley will start Friday against Braxxtin Todd of Excelsior Springs.

Continuing with the theme of winning by pin, Makenna Cook beat Corey Heberlie in the first round and will face Nathan Fagerstone of Cameron in a critical match for Cook, who sits in the top half of a top-heavy bracket.

Logan Summers didn't want to end the streak so he won by pin as well, taking care of Clayton Roinette of Smithville. Summers will now face a familiar foe in John Kingsley of Fulton.

Rounding out the winners by pin was Austin Dovin, who in just under a minute beat Rashuan Fenderson. Dovin will now look to defeat Maliek Collins of Center High School.

Kade Proctor lost his first round match, but stayed alive by winning in the consolation bracket.

One Tiger tasted defeat and saw his state tournament end as Tre Stewart lost twice on Thursday.

Kirksville will look to keep pace as they start competition on Friday morning.